The European Commission issued proposals to exclude many complex products from the treated articles provisions in the biocidal products Regulation. Biocidal treatments used to control harmful organisms during manufacturing would be excluded, thus addressing industry concerns that the widespread use of preservatives would mean nearly all finished goods fall under the Regulation as it stands (21 May). The proposals will be discussed again in September and, if supported by EU member states, will be added to the Commission’s guidance note on treated articles. Researchers in the US said carbon nanotubes added to polymers could, contrary to previous assumptions, break free of the material and be released to the environment, following exposure to UV light and moisture, and that “important questions” relating to their environmental and health impacts have not been properly addressed (22 May). If further studies conducted under real environmental conditions confirmed the findings, said the researchers, releases could be prevented by adding stabilisers to the polymers.
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